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The general election race intensifies,
published: Monday | April 30, 2007
Beverley Anderson-Manley
Within days, the Budget Debate will be over and both political parties will be pushing full speed ahead in their election campaigns, as they wait for the announcement of the general election of 2007. Once the announcement is made, these activities will intensify until election day. As we approach the election, there is no doubt that both parties remain in a statistical dead heat in a situation where there are 60 constituencies. The three new seats being proposed by the Electoral Commission will not come on stream for these elections. It could be a nail-biting result and the thought of each party getting 30 seats each is frightening.
As we get closer and closer to the elections, Members of Parliament and candidates for both general and local government elections will spend as much quality time as possible in their constituencies. It is entirely possible for the Prime Minister to call both elections simultaneously - so all candidates are preparing themselves. No matter what, general elections are won, constituency by constituency and local government elections are won division by division.
High Levels of Uncommitted
In addition, over 40 per cent of persons still remain in the 'uncommitted' category. The data that is available for this category needs to be disaggregated so that we can begin to get an idea of who these people are. The political parties need to know so that they can create the appropriate message that can inspire them to make a decision. We look forward to the manifestos of both political parties as this will, in some cases, help people to make up their minds.
There are more questions than answers. For example - given that it is the first time that we have a woman as Prime Minister, how will women vote? How will the different social classes vote? How do people see change? Do they see it in the Jamaica Labour Party under the leadership of Bruce Golding or do they see it within the People's National Party with its new grass-roots leader, Portia Simpson Miller, at the helm?
This election is particularly challenging to predict given the levels of cynicism and the overwhelming lack of trust for our politicians and others in society. In keeping with this, many voters, including supporters of both political parties, want something for their votes and they are very clear what that 'something' is. The party with access to the most funding definitely has a head start, given that many of their supporters are demanding money not only for the basic necessities of life but for what used to be voluntary party work.
'Sick and tired of being Sick and Tired'
Many women and men are 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' and feel alienated by the system. People need to be inspired and motivated to feel that they can make it. Old, tired conversations - 'the same old, same old" will not 'cut it' this time around. People long to hear something different that will make a difference in their lives immediately!
We wait to hear the campaign message of each of the parties. We need to hear what distinguishes the two political parties. We need to know what are the fundamental differences between them so we can choose how to utilise our votes. Of course, this only applies to those who know they have a choice and are willing to exercise that choice. This is not for the 'diehards' who vote for their respective parties, no matter what.
The JLP has been in the political wilderness for 18 long years. This is an unusually long period for Jamaica, where we are accustomed to changing political administrations every two terms. This is partly what makes the current situation so dynamic. We wait for the sound of the trumpet and the ringing of the bell. In the meantime, as citizens, one of our responsibilities is to ensure that we have as much information as possible about the programmes of both parties so that we can make informed decisions. As the political temperature heats up, let us as a country conduct ourselves at the highest levels possible.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist, transformation coach and broadcaster. Email: BManley@kasnet.com.
published: Monday | April 30, 2007
Beverley Anderson-Manley
Within days, the Budget Debate will be over and both political parties will be pushing full speed ahead in their election campaigns, as they wait for the announcement of the general election of 2007. Once the announcement is made, these activities will intensify until election day. As we approach the election, there is no doubt that both parties remain in a statistical dead heat in a situation where there are 60 constituencies. The three new seats being proposed by the Electoral Commission will not come on stream for these elections. It could be a nail-biting result and the thought of each party getting 30 seats each is frightening.
As we get closer and closer to the elections, Members of Parliament and candidates for both general and local government elections will spend as much quality time as possible in their constituencies. It is entirely possible for the Prime Minister to call both elections simultaneously - so all candidates are preparing themselves. No matter what, general elections are won, constituency by constituency and local government elections are won division by division.
High Levels of Uncommitted
In addition, over 40 per cent of persons still remain in the 'uncommitted' category. The data that is available for this category needs to be disaggregated so that we can begin to get an idea of who these people are. The political parties need to know so that they can create the appropriate message that can inspire them to make a decision. We look forward to the manifestos of both political parties as this will, in some cases, help people to make up their minds.
There are more questions than answers. For example - given that it is the first time that we have a woman as Prime Minister, how will women vote? How will the different social classes vote? How do people see change? Do they see it in the Jamaica Labour Party under the leadership of Bruce Golding or do they see it within the People's National Party with its new grass-roots leader, Portia Simpson Miller, at the helm?
This election is particularly challenging to predict given the levels of cynicism and the overwhelming lack of trust for our politicians and others in society. In keeping with this, many voters, including supporters of both political parties, want something for their votes and they are very clear what that 'something' is. The party with access to the most funding definitely has a head start, given that many of their supporters are demanding money not only for the basic necessities of life but for what used to be voluntary party work.
'Sick and tired of being Sick and Tired'
Many women and men are 'sick and tired of being sick and tired' and feel alienated by the system. People need to be inspired and motivated to feel that they can make it. Old, tired conversations - 'the same old, same old" will not 'cut it' this time around. People long to hear something different that will make a difference in their lives immediately!
We wait to hear the campaign message of each of the parties. We need to hear what distinguishes the two political parties. We need to know what are the fundamental differences between them so we can choose how to utilise our votes. Of course, this only applies to those who know they have a choice and are willing to exercise that choice. This is not for the 'diehards' who vote for their respective parties, no matter what.
The JLP has been in the political wilderness for 18 long years. This is an unusually long period for Jamaica, where we are accustomed to changing political administrations every two terms. This is partly what makes the current situation so dynamic. We wait for the sound of the trumpet and the ringing of the bell. In the meantime, as citizens, one of our responsibilities is to ensure that we have as much information as possible about the programmes of both parties so that we can make informed decisions. As the political temperature heats up, let us as a country conduct ourselves at the highest levels possible.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist, transformation coach and broadcaster. Email: BManley@kasnet.com.